Universal lock device for right hand or left hand applications

ABSTRACT

A lock device for a pair of members relatively movable about a common axis settable to lock or temporarily bind in a fixed relative position and reversible to lock in right hand or left hand applications.

iliie Siafies atei 1191 Adams Oct. 15, 1974 UNIVERSAL LQCK DEVICE FOR GHT [56} References Cited HAND 0R LEFT HAND APPLICATIONS UNITED STATES PATENTS Inventor: Clarence Maurice Adams, Reed 988,109 3/1911 Kaufmann 403/313 City, Mich. 2,676,028 4/1954 Cook 403/161 Assigneez Swiss Auuminum Ltd. pp 2,820,241 1/1958 Schlage 403/118 S t l d W1 Zer an Primary Examiner-Jordan Franklin Flledr June 7, 1973 Assistant Examiner-Conrad L. Berman [21] Appl' NOJ 367,779 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Robert H. Bachman 52 11.8. 131 403/3, 403/91, 403/99, [57] ABSTRACT 403/ 102, 403/118, 403/161 A look device for a pair of members relatively mov- [51] 1111. C1. F161: 11/10 able about a common axis settable to lock or tempo- Field of Search 403/3, 4, 69, 91, 99, 102, 403/118, 161, 162, 163, 43, 44, 46; 292/263, 2 276 M PRESS F/r rarily bind in a fixed relative position and reversible to lock in right hand or left hand applications.

5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures R/GHT HAND TRA J HEDS SLIDING PH sum in: 2

PAIENIEUum 1 51914 star 2 or 2 THREADS RIGHT HAND LEFT HAND THREADS SL/D/NG FIT X LOCK POSITION THRE A 05 THREADS FT 0 ,2 LE HAN RIGHT HAND gLock POSITION R0 771 T/ON BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention is based upon the well known principle of the lock or jam nut in which a first nut in threaded engagement with a mating bolt is temporarily bound or locked in a fixed position by positioning a second nut in close frictional engagement with the first nut whereby both nuts are precluded from backing off the bolt.

A particular feature of the present invention is the provision of a' lock or binding device for a pair of relatively movable arms where the first arm is movable relative to the second arm in a predetermined direction and the device is settable so that a temporary lock action occurs at a predetermined radial or arcuate disposition of the arms.

The device is reversible by inverting or exchanging several of its integral members so that a lock or temporary binding action may be achieved when the arms are moved relative to one another in a direction opposite to said predetermined direction.

Stated otherwise, the lock device of the present invention is useful in right hand or left hand applications by the inversion of elements thereof.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of a right hand or left hand lock device useful in either hand without adding or removing piece parts making up the total lock device assembly.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of a right hand-left hand temporary binding device which lends itself "to large scale mass production in that all piece parts of the device are fabricated in accordance with one set of specifications-or manufacturing drawmgs.

Obviously, such a design precludes the necessity to stock right hand and left hand parts and eliminates bothersome inventory problems encountered in prior art devices where piece parts for right hand and left hand assemblies must be kept separate and appropriately labelled or marked.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION .A lock or temporary binding device embracing certain principles of the present invention may include a pair of relatively movable arms, a double-ended stud received by both arms, defining a common axis about which both arms rotate, one end of said stud being formed with right hand threads and the opposite end being formed with left hand threads, cooperating single retainer nuts each in threaded engagement with a mating end of said stud to retain the arms as an assembly, said stud being received in a first arm with a pressed fit, a first retainer nut in threaded engagement with its mating stud end and settable to a fixed position relative to said first arm effective to exert a tensile stress on said stud tending to withdraw the stud from the first arm, a second retainer stud being slidably received in and keyed to the second arm. said second arm being rotatable relative to the first arm about said common axis in a predetermined direction until said arms temporarily bind while subtending a predetermined included angle and precluding further rotation in said predetermined direction, said arms retaining relative mobility in a direction opposite to said predetermined direction effective to release said arms.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from examination of the succeeding specification and claims when read in conjunction with the appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. l is an exploded view of a lock device illustrating the principles of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows the elements of FIG. 1 as an assembly.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a lock device with the elements thereof disposed for a right hand application in which one arm is movable relative to the other arm in a clockwise direction to a jamming position indicated in dotted lines.

FIG. 3A is a sectional view of FIG. 3 as viewed in the plane represented by the line 3A3A.

FIG. 4 shows the same elements arranged for a left hand application in which one arm is movable relative to the other in a counterclockwise direction to a binding position shown in dotted lines.

FIG. 4A is a sectional view of FIG. 4 as viewed in the plane represented by line 4A4A showing the inverted position of certain elements necessary to convert from right hand to left hand application.

Referring now to the drawings, a stud indicated generally by the reference numeral 10 has one end 11 formed with right hand threads and an opposite end 12 formed withleft hand threads. End 11 has a mating retainer nut 13 and end 12 has a mating retainer nut 14. A central position of the stud 10 is formed with a lug 16 which is received in a pressed fit in an appropriately machined opening 17 formed in arm 18. A friction washer 19 encircles the stud 10 and is sandwiched between arm 18 and retainer nut 13. A spacer washer 21 having a counter bore 22 and a bearing surface 23 encircles the stud 10 and operates to space arm 18 from arm 24. Bearing surface 23 is in sliding contact with the underside of arm 18 and counter bore 23 provides clearance for the lug. 16. Correspondingly, the underside of spacer 21 is in sliding contact with the top surface of arm 24.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 3A, the disposition of piece parts necessary to produce clockwise relative motion or to produce an assembly having a right hand application will be described.

Stud 10 is shown disposed vertically with lug 16 received in a pressed fit in arm 18 with end 11, formed with right hand threads, projecting upwardly and end 12, formed with left hand threads, projecting downwardly. Mating retainer nut 13 is wound tightly against washer 19 in turn bearing against the upper surface 26 of arm 18. Sufficient torque is applied in setting retainer nut 13 so that it places the stud 10 under a tensile stress tending to withdraw lug 16 from its pressed fit with arm 18.

Arm 24 is formed with a hexagonal aperture 27 providing a sliding fit for retaining nut 14 while retaining a keying action between the retainer nut and the arm.

Note that retainer nut 14, (as well as retainer nut 13), is formed with a collar 28 to retain arm 24, preventing it from sliding free from its driving connection with arm 24. Spacer washer 21 encircles lug l0 and separates arms 18 and 24 as is most apparent in FIG. 2.

As stated previously, counter bore 22 is provided to afford clearance for lug 16; thus, arm 18 bears upon and rotates on bearing surface 23 of collar 21', correspondingly, bearing surface 29 engages mating surface 31 of arm 24.

The operation of the assembly of FIGS. 3 and 3A occurs as follows: holding arm 18, fixed arm 24, driving nut 14 is rotated clockwise relative to arm 18 causing arm 24 to move axially towards arm 18 along their common axis 32 as nut 14 traverses the left hand threads on mating end 12 until ultimately arm 24 locks or binds in the dotted line position shown in FIG. 3 precluding further relative rotation in a clockwise direction.

At this point, i.e., in the lock or binding position arms 24 and 18 subtend a given included angle A.

The lock position can be broken by holding arm 18 fixed and merely reversing the rotation of arm 24.

When it is desired to change the value of included angle A, i.e., change the lock or binding position of arm 24 relative to arm 18, it is simply necessary to change the setting of retainer nut 13. For example, if an angle larger than angle A is required or desired, nut 13 is tightened or set up relative to arm 18 in a direction which places additional tensile stress on stud of sufficient magnitude to move lug 16 a slight increment further into arm 18 with the result that the binding or lock position is reached earlier, and the subtended angle between the arms 18 and 24 is larger than the angle A.

Correspondingly, if it is desired to achieve a lock or binding position with a subtended angle smaller than angle A, the retainer nut 13 is backed off incrementally so that the lock position is reached later creating a subtended angle between the arms 18 and 24 less than angle A.

Obviously, the setting of retainer nut 13 is adjusted when arms 18 and 24 are in an unlocked or free relationship.

FIGS. 4 and 4A show the disposition of the assembly when the jamming device is operable in the counter clockwise or left hand application.

To change the device from right hand operation of FIG. 3A to left hand operation of FIG. 4A, the unit is assembled in the fashion illustrated in FIG. 1 but arm 18 is inverted, the position of retainer nuts 13 and 141 are exchanged and the device reassembled into the arrangement shown in FIG. 4A.

In the arrangement of FIG. 4A, the left hand application retainer nut 14 is set up against arm 18 and after holding arm 18 fixed rotation of arm 24 in a counter clockwise direction will bring about a lock position between the two arms as represented by the included angle B of FIG. 4.

Here again, when it is desired to achieve a lock or binding position with a larger or smaller subtended angle than the angle B, the retainer'nut 14 is set up against arm 18 moving lug l6 incrementally into the arm 18 or the nut 14 is backed offincrementally allowing the lug 16 to pull out of the arm 18.

It is anticipated that a wide variety of modifications and utility applications may be devised with respect to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

A typical application for the lock device of this disclosure is in hold-open devices for doors, windows and similar pivoting closures.

Obviously, there are many other applications where it is desired to move pivoting members relative to one another in right hand or left hand fashion to achieve a lock or binding position between the members at predetermined included angles, and this invention provides a basic initiatory assembly useful universally and selectively in right and left hand applications.

What is claimed is:

1. A binding or lock device for limiting relative motion of two members movable about a common axis comprising a pair of relatively movable arms, a double ended stud received by both arms defining the common axis, one end of said stud being formed with right hand threads and the opposite end being formed with left hand threads, a pair of cooperating retainer nuts each in threaded engagement with a mating end of said stud to retain said arms as an assembly, said stud being received in a first arm with a pressed fit, a first retainer nut in threaded engagement with its mating end and settable to a fixed position relative to said first arm effective to exert a tensile stress on said stud tending to withdraw said stud from the first arm, the second retainer nut being slidably received in and keyed to the second arm, said second arm being rotated relative to the first arm about said common axis in a predetermined direction until said arms lock or bind temporarily precluding further rotation in said predetermined direction, said arms retaining relative mobility in a direction opposite to said predetermined direction effective to release said arms.

2. The binding device of claim I in which the first arm carrying the stud is inverted and the mating nuts are correspondingly inverted relative to the second arm whereby said arms bind temporarily by rotating said second arm relative to the first arm in a direction opposite to said predetermined direction.

3. The binding device of claim 1 in which a bearing washer is disposed between said first arm and the first retainer nut.

4. The binding device of claim 1 in which a spacer washer encircles said stud and is disposed between said arms.

5. The binding device of claim 1 in which a spacer washer having a counter bore encircles said stud and is disposed between said arms with the counter bore facing said first arm. 

1. A binding or lock device for limiting relative motion of two members movable about a common axis comprising a pair of relatively movable arms, a double ended stud received by both arms defining the common axis, one end of said stud being formed with right hand threads and the opposite end being formed with left hand threads, a pair of cooperating retainer nuts each in threaded engagement with a mating end of said stud to retain said arms as an assembly, said stud being received in a first arm with a pressed fit, a first retainer nut in threaded engagement with its mating end and settable to a fixed position relative to said first arm effective to exert a tensile stress on said stud tending to withdraw said stud from the first arm, the second retainer nut being slidably received in and keyed to the second arm, said second arm being rotated relative to the first arm about said common axis in a predetermined direction until said arms lock or bind temporarily precluding further rotation in said predetermined direction, said arms retaining relative mobility in a direction opposite to said predetermined direction effective to release said arms.
 2. The binding device of claim 1 in which the first arm carrying the stud is inverted and the mating nuts are correspondingly inverted relativE to the second arm whereby said arms bind temporarily by rotating said second arm relative to the first arm in a direction opposite to said predetermined direction.
 3. The binding device of claim 1 in which a bearing washer is disposed between said first arm and the first retainer nut.
 4. The binding device of claim 1 in which a spacer washer encircles said stud and is disposed between said arms.
 5. The binding device of claim 1 in which a spacer washer having a counter bore encircles said stud and is disposed between said arms with the counter bore facing said first arm. 